BITTER GOURD (Momordica charantia L.)

I. Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification Standards

The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following specific standards constitute the standards for certification of bitter gourd seed.

II. Land requirements

Land to be used for seed production of bitter gourd shall be free of volunteer plants. 

III. Field Inspection

A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first before flowering, the second during flowering and fruiting stage, and the third at the mature fruit stage and prior harvesting.

IV. Field Standards

A. General requirements

1. Isolation

Seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:

        Contaminants                                                                                   Minimum distance (meters)

                                                                                                                Foundation        Certified

            1                                                                                                         2                     3

Fields of other varieties                                                                                 1000                 500

Fields of the same variety not conforming to varietal purity

 requirements for certification and from balsam apple (mokha)

Momordica balsamina L.; Bhat karela: (kakrol): M.cochinchinensis 

spreng.; Jangli karela : M.dioica Roxb ex.Willd.                                             1000                 500  

B. Specific requirements

        Factor                                                                                              Maximum permitted (%)*

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

      Offtypes                                                                                               0.10                    0.20

  ** Objectionable weed plants                                                                  None                   None      

* Maximum permitted at and after flowering.

** Objectionable weed shall be: balsam apple (mokha): Momordica balsamina L.; Bhat karela: (kakrol): 

M.cochinchinensis spreng.; Jangli karela : M.dioica Roxb. ex.Willd.                                                                  

V. Seed standards

        Factor                                                                                              Standards for each class

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

Pure seed (minimum)                                                                                98.0%                    98.0%

Inert matter (maximum)                                                                              2.0%                       2.0%

Other crop seeds (maximum)                                                                   None                      None

Total Weed seeds (maximum)                                                                  None                      None

* Objectionable weed seeds (maximum)                                                  None                      None

Other distinguishable varieties (maximum)                                                 5 / kg                      10/ kg

Germination (minimum)                                                                            60%                        60%

Moisture (maximum)                                                                                 7.0%                      7.0%

For vapour-proof containers (maximum)                                                    6.0%                     6.0%

* Objectionable weeds are same as given at IV B above.